Introduced more human rights instead of human sacrafice
Faced mortal struggles because of his mortal mother
Significance:
There are many legends involving Hercules, revealing his traits and characteristics. The ability to defeat things with ease, strength, bravery, arrogance- all traits he is know to possess.
Examples: Defeating things with ease- In the story "Mortal son of Zeus," when Hercules is an infant, Hera becomes jealous of Hercules and sends two snakes to kill Hercules. Not only does Hercules survive, but he strangled both of the snakes- one in each hand. Strength and Bravery-When Hercules is an adult, he was assigned the task to kill the great Nemean Lion. This lion- which was not just a typical beast- was impenetrable to any arrow or spear of the time. This meant Hercules could only kill the beast with his hands and feet. Without his strength or bravery, he would have never been able to kill the lion.
Arrogance- Hercules shows arrogance when he kills a boy who had spilled water on him. Hercules thinks he is better than the boy so he feels that he is allowed to kill. He also believes that because of his greater rank he can kill a friend whose father insulted him. Hercules thinks he can kill without consequence. However, he is wrong as Zeus sends him to o be a slave to Queen Omphale of Lydia, who forces him to dress and work as a woman for a year.
- Mortal son of Zeus
- super-human strength
- Romantic figure of Chivalrous virtues
- Twelve Labors
- Dodekathlos
- Aided Olypian Gods against a race of giants
- Introduced more human rights instead of human sacrafice
- Faced mortal struggles because of his mortal mother
Significance:There are many legends involving Hercules, revealing his traits and characteristics. The ability to defeat things with ease, strength, bravery, arrogance- all traits he is know to possess.
Examples:
Defeating things with ease- In the story "Mortal son of Zeus," when Hercules is an infant, Hera becomes jealous of Hercules and sends two snakes to kill Hercules. Not only does Hercules survive, but he strangled both of the snakes- one in each hand.
Strength and Bravery- When Hercules is an adult, he was assigned the task to kill the great Nemean Lion. This lion- which was not just a typical beast- was impenetrable to any arrow or spear of the time. This meant Hercules could only kill the beast with his hands and feet. Without his strength or bravery, he would have never been able to kill the lion.
Arrogance- Hercules shows arrogance when he kills a boy who had spilled water on him. Hercules thinks he is better than the boy so he feels that he is allowed to kill. He also believes that because of his greater rank he can kill a friend whose father insulted him. Hercules thinks he can kill without consequence. However, he is wrong as Zeus sends him to o be a slave to Queen Omphale of Lydia, who forces him to dress and work as a woman for a year.
Work Cited:www.essortment.com/all/herolesgreekh/rmgl.htm
http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2005/3/5/20955/36555
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1998/2/98.02.06.x.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mythology/section7.rhtml